Esme, the Dowager Countess of Cromer, dies

Esme, Dowager Countess of Cromer, has died peacefully in hospital at the age of 88 after a short illness.

A former Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen, artist and author, she was a co-chairman of the Founding Council of the Rothermere American Institute, an international centre of excellence at the University of Oxford for the study of the United States.

Her father was the second Viscount Rothermere and she was an aunt of Jonathan Harmsworth, the fourth Viscount Rothermere and Chairman of The Daily Mail and General Trust, which publishes the Daily Mail.

Beauty: Esme Cromer, photographed by Cecil Beaton in 1940, led an active life and was an accomplished artist, author and gardener

Her first husband was the third Earl of Cromer, who was born into the Baring banking family. He was British Ambassador in Washington during Edward Heath’s premiership and achieved great success in the international financial community. This culminated in his appointment as the youngest Governor of the Bank of England for 200 years.

He is renowned for having single-handedly saved the pound during a major run on Britain’s reserves in the 1960s following the election of the Wilson government.

In her published memoirs, Lady Cromer recalled how her husband, known as Rowley, worked through the night dealing with the crisis, staving off disaster by arranging international loans of $3billion.

Young love: Lady Cromer, seen here on her wedding day to the third Earl of Cromer, revealed she walked barefoot down the aisle to avoid being taller than her husband

They had three children and were married for 49 years until his death in 1991. At his funeral at the Guards Chapel at London’s Wellington Barracks, which was attended by more than 500 people, former foreign secretary Lord Carrington paid tribute to Lord Cromer as a man who had served his country ‘well, wisely and with much distinction’.

Her memoirs, entitled From This Day Forward, also revealed that when she married she took off her shoes and walked barefoot down the aisle rather than appear taller than her husband.

Lady Cromer married for the second time in 1993 to Gerrit van der Woude, who died six years later.

She took up painting in the 1970s when Lord Cromer was ambassador in Washington, displaying a particular flair for watercolours and flower paintings and holding exhibitions in aid of charities.

Generous: Lady Cromer contributed to Oxford University's development and helped pay for a library

She was an accomplished gardener and chairman of the Orchid Society of Jersey.

She is survived by Evelyn, the fourth Earl of Cromer, and the Hon Vivian Baring, chairman of A&N International Media.

In recognition of significant contributions to Oxford University’s development and strength, Lady Cromer and her brother, the third Viscount Rothermere, then chairman of the Daily Mail and General Trust, were admitted to the university’s prestigious Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors at a ceremony in 1993.

A donation from family trusts helped pay for a library of American books and documents.

In a tribute to his aunt, the present Lord Rothermere said: ‘Esme’s passing ends an era for the Harmsworth family.

‘She has been a tremendous support to me personally since I succeeded my father as Chairman of DMGT. I shall miss her wise counsel as the family matriarch.’

A private funeral service will be held, followed by a memorial service in the autumn.

Motherly: The Countess seen here with her children Lady Lana Gray and Evelyn, Viscount Errington